Corey Gameiro was sick and tired of looking out that window. Hands against the glass, the Port Kembla product wanted more than anything to be on the other side. For the best part of 900 days he’d been in a similar spot. Three straight knee reconstructions had made rehabilitation a long and lonely process. “You're wondering what do I have to do to get out there?,” Gameiro recalls. "Then you realise what you have to do. It is a lot of hard work. It is a lot of gym. "It is a lot of mental and emotional stress that I had to go through. I had to see sports psychiatrists and I had to go through a lot to just feel right again. "I am only just getting to that now. It has taken even longer than three years to get back to where I want to be and that's out there playing." Gameiro’s first setback came while playing at Sydney FC during a two year stint between 2013 and 2015 before needing a further two knee reconstructions in an ill-fated tenure at Melbourne City. The former Fulham striker was able to get through the 2017-18 campaign at Brisbane Roar unscathed and believes he’s now ready to get back to his best at the Central Coast Mariners. "I am stronger than what I was, that is for sure," Gameiro said. "I think everybody goes through that phase where they think they are invincible. I certainly thought I was. "I thought I could climb a pole. I thought I could climb a wall. It didn't matter. You don't really think it is going to be you going through that, but now I have, I am a lot of happier who I am as a person." Gameiro joined the Mariners on a one-year deal earlier this year. “I have been trying to find a club where I am comfortable and happy to play," Gameiro said. "When Mike [Mulvey] rang me to come to the Central Coast Mariners. The rebuild he is trying to do here at the club and the belief we have together to get back where we think we belong, which is in the top half of the table. "It was exciting and probably one of the main reasons of why I wanted to be a part of it." The 25-year-old is one of three local products, alongside Josh MacDonald and Jordan Murray, who will be vying for spots in an attacking third which includes ex Leeds United star Ross McCormack. "It is great to have competition," Gameiro said. "Mike has put together a very, very strong squad and competition for places is one thing that he said this club needs and we do need it.” Gameiro came on as a substitute in the Mariners 3-1 pre-season win over Wollongong Wolves on Friday.

Corey Gameiro ready to take A-League by storm for Mariners

BACK IN BUSINESS: Port Kembla junior Corey Gameiro is hoping to hit the mark for the Central Coast Mariners. Picture: ADAM McLEAN

Corey Gameiro was sick and tired of looking out that window.

Hands against the glass, the Port Kembla product wanted more than anything to be on the other side.

For the best part of 900 days he’d been in a similar spot. Three straight knee reconstructions had made rehabilitation a long and lonely process.

“You're wondering what do I have to do to get out there?,” Gameiro recalls.

"Then you realise what you have to do. It is a lot of hard work. It is a lot of gym.

"It is a lot of mental and emotional stress that I had to go through. I had to see sports psychiatrists and I had to go through a lot to just feel right again.

"I am only just getting to that now. It has taken even longer than three years to get back to where I want to be and that's out there playing."

Gameiro’s first setback came while playing at Sydney FC during a two year stint between 2013 and 2015 before needing a further two knee reconstructions in an ill-fated tenure at Melbourne City.

The former Fulham striker was able to get through the 2017-18 campaign at Brisbane Roar unscathed and believes he’s now ready to get back to his best at the Central Coast Mariners.

"I am stronger than what I was, that is for sure," Gameiro said.

"I think everybody goes through that phase where they think they are invincible. I certainly thought I was.

"I thought I could climb a pole. I thought I could climb a wall. It didn't matter. You don't really think it is going to be you going through that, but now I have, I am a lot of happier who I am as a person."

Gameiro joined the Mariners on a one-year deal earlier this year.

“I have been trying to find a club where I am comfortable and happy to play," Gameiro said.

"When Mike [Mulvey] rang me to come to the Central Coast Mariners. The rebuild he is trying to do here at the club and the belief we have together to get back where we think we belong, which is in the top half of the table.

"It was exciting and probably one of the main reasons of why I wanted to be a part of it."

The 25-year-old is one of three local products, alongside Josh MacDonald and Jordan Murray, who will be vying for spots in an attacking third which includes ex Leeds United star Ross McCormack.

"It is great to have competition," Gameiro said.

"Mike has put together a very, very strong squad and competition for places is one thing that he said this club needs and we do need it.”

Gameiro came on as a substitute in the Mariners 3-1 pre-season win over Wollongong Wolves on Friday.